Dutch prosecutors drop two cases against Maccabi hooligans after surveillance footage 'lost'

Dutch prosecutors have dropped two criminal cases involving Israeli football hooligans linked to disturbances surrounding the Ajax–Maccabi Tel Aviv football match last November, after key surveillance footage was reportedly lost, Dutch broadcaster NOS reported on Monday.

The incidents occurred on the Amsterdam metro system, and both the public prosecution service and city transport operator GVB confirmed that video evidence was deleted earlier than expected.

According to GVB, the footage was erased due to the replacement of some camera equipment, even though such recordings are typically stored for at least a week.

The dropped cases stem from complaints by two women. One woman said she was physically assaulted, spat on, and had her hair pulled after shouting "Free Palestine" at Maccabi fans en route to the stadium. The second reported that Maccabi supporters threatened her and a companion wearing headscarves, shouting: "We will kill all of you."

Police were present at one of the scenes but did not arrest any suspects. Prosecutors have since informed the women that their cases cannot proceed due to the absence of video evidence.

GVB confirmed that the cameras in question were replaced five days after the incidents, making the footage unrecoverable.

Both complaints were filed on 14 November. The women's lawyer, Adem Çatbas, said he had previously urged authorities to secure all relevant footage.

He criticised the erasure as "remarkable" given the heightened tensions at the time, and also questioned why it had taken eight months to identify a separate suspect caught on camera smashing a taxi window, even though he had been caught on camera "clear as day".

That particular case is expected to move forward. The man, reportedly dressed in black, was identified with the help of Israeli authorities, and prosecutors were awaiting the public release of his name.

Back in March, prosecutors said they had identified 122 individuals involved in the unrest around the Europa League match on 7 November. Most suspects have not been named. authorities said the group includes both pro-Palestine demonstrators, along with around 10 Maccabi fans.

"The investigation is still ongoing, but we believe we have identified everyone involved in the most serious acts of violence," prosecution spokesperson Mara van den Berg told NOS at the time.

On the night of the match, five Maccabi fans were hospitalised after being assaulted in what Mayor Femke Halsema described as drive-by attacks by individuals on scooters. The violence triggered outrage in Israel, with authorities briefly considering evacuating their nationals from the Netherlands.

Initial accounts suggested that locals had launched targeted attacks on Jewish residents and Maccabi supporters. However, later reports indicated that Maccabi fans had also contributed to the unrest, including tearing down Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Palestinian slogans.

A total of 62 people were arrested on match day, including 10 Maccabi fans. Most were released shortly after. Two official reports compiled by the police, prosecution service, and city government on the events were due to be published later on Monday.